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Preventive care

Intraoral camera exams in Lehi

You deserve to see the tooth you are being asked about. A tiny camera puts a large, clear photo of it on a screen beside your chair, so you can judge for yourself.

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What is an intraoral camera?

It is a wand-shaped camera, roughly as wide as a marker. As your dentist glides it over your teeth, it captures crisp, magnified photos. You can watch them on a nearby screen as they are taken.

  • Uses light, not radiation, like any digital camera
  • Makes cracks, wear and failing fillings easy to see
  • Saved photos let your dentist compare later visits

How the camera helps you

Your dentist can use the camera during nearly any appointment. It is handy for showing you things like:

  • A cracked tooth you could never spot in the bathroom mirror
  • A filling whose edges are starting to wear or leak
  • Early decay or dark stains in the grooves of a molar
  • Flat, worn enamel from clenching or grinding
  • Tartar or puffy gums along the back teeth

When you can see the problem, the reason for a treatment makes more sense. You can ask better questions, weigh your options and pick what feels right. The photos also stay in your chart, so changes are easier to track next time.

What to expect

  1. A fresh cover. Each patient gets a new, single-use sleeve over the camera tip. Then the wand is moved slowly along the teeth being checked.
  2. Live view. Photos show on a screen as they are taken. Ask us to stop on any tooth you are curious about.
  3. What it means. Your dentist points out what the photos show and tells you if a spot needs care now or can simply be watched.

Think of the camera and X-rays as partners. The camera shows the surface of teeth and gums. X-rays show inside the tooth and the bone beneath. Your dentist often looks at both.

Cost and insurance

Your cost depends on the care you need and your dental plan. After your exam, we give you an estimate and go over what your insurance is likely to cover before any treatment starts. We work with most major dental plans and accept CareCredit.

See insurance and payment options

FAQ

Questions about intraoral camera

Will I feel anything?
Not much. The rounded tip just slides along the outside of your teeth. Many people compare it to the feel of a toothbrush.
Does the camera use X-rays?
No. It snaps ordinary photos and video using a small light, so there is no radiation.
What can't the camera see?
It only sees surfaces. Chips, cracks, worn areas, plaque, tartar and gum changes show up well, but the inside of a tooth and the jawbone need X-rays.
Can I take my photos home?
Just ask during your visit. The photos are kept in your chart and can be shared with you, or with your insurance plan when it is needed.

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Questions?

Call to book your visit

Our Lehi team will answer your questions and find a time that works for you.

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